Bhawana Kandpal: Real, Raw, and Rising – From Reels to Regional Cinema

Sometimes, the most genuine stories come from people who never planned to be storytellers. Bhawana Kandpal didn’t set out to be a star. She didn’t dream of lights, cameras, or applause. Her journey wasn’t sculpted by design—it unfolded by chance, then snowballed through effort. What started as simple reels turned into a music offer, and that into a viral hit. Now, she finds herself stepping into the world of regional cinema with a lead role.

We caught up with Bhawana in the middle of her whirlwind. She's grounded, humble, and still figuring things out—like most of us. She’s not comfortable speaking in English, and honestly, she doesn’t need to be. Her words are short, but her story speaks volumes. So we’ve done what a good friend would do—taken her voice, her feelings, her raw one-liners, and filled in the gaps to give you a fuller picture of someone who never asked to be famous… and still became someone worth watching.

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in music, and how did your journey begin?
I never thought I’d enter this line. Truly. I didn’t grow up dreaming about being a singer or actress. It was just destiny. Things started moving on their own, and then the pressure to keep going built around it. That pressure, that flow—I followed it. My journey began with social media. I did a short comedy film first, just for fun. After that, I started my YouTube channel in 2021. I was just experimenting, learning. Then one day, I got a song offer through Instagram. That was the moment things shifted. I didn’t chase the spotlight. It found me.

2. Your recent song has gained immense popularity on Instagram. What was the inspiration behind this particular track?
I’m inspired by the people behind the music—the ones who create it, write it, sing it. They work with such passion, they pour everything into their craft. I’m just a medium for their work to reach others. When you see how hard they work behind the scenes, you want to do justice to it. It’s their honesty and effort that push me to give my 100%.

3. How do you feel about the overwhelming response your song has received from listeners and social media users?
It makes me feel proud. Deeply. When people love something I’ve worked on, it hits different. I used to see songs by others going viral, being played on people’s phones—and now, it’s mine. That shift is surreal. It’s a “wow” moment. Not because of the fame, but because it tells me I’m growing, moving forward.

4. Can you share any memorable moments or anecdotes from the making of this viral song?
Oh, this one’s special. When we were shooting for Himuli, I wasn’t confident with the dancing at all. That day—when we were filming the dance segment—I cried. I cried a lot. I felt like I had landed myself in a situation I wasn’t ready for. I thought I’d ruined it. But after the release, when I saw people loving it, I understood—everything teaches you something. Whether it’s a good shoot or a stressful one, you walk away wiser. I’m not trained, but I’m willing. That’s what counts.

5. What do you think sets your music apart and resonates with your audience?
I don’t fake anything on social media. What you see is who I am. I don’t try to act “social media perfect.” I post the way I live—simple, real, raw. And I think people feel that. They connect with the honesty. I never treat followers like numbers. They’re people who’ve supported me, and I respect that a lot. Every single one.

6. In what ways has social media, especially platforms like Instagram, impacted your music career?
Instagram is where it all started for me. I used to make simple reels, and that’s where I got my first music offer from. But then, when the first song didn’t perform that well, the producer said, “What’s the use of all these followers if they won’t even click on your YouTube?” That stung. But it also taught me something huge—Instagram and YouTube are different worlds. You need to build yourself from scratch on both. That lesson changed how I looked at the work.

7. Could you tell us about your creative process when writing and composing songs?
Honestly, that’s not my space. I’m an actress. By the time I’m brought in, the song is already written and composed. I haven’t written or composed anything myself yet. My part is to bring the emotion, the presence, to what others have created. I become the face of their story. And I try to do that with honesty.

8. Who are some of your musical influences, and how have they shaped your style?
Honestly, I listen to a lot of different artists—not just for entertainment but to feel things. I really connect with singers who sound raw and emotional, the ones who don’t try to sound perfect. Folk music inspires me a lot too, especially pahadi songs from Uttarakhand. There’s a kind of simplicity and soul in those tracks that I try to carry in my expressions, even when I’m not singing. I may not be a singer, but their emotion helps me act better—because I feel what they felt. That’s my influence… emotions over perfection.

9. Apart from this viral hit, do you have any upcoming projects or collaborations that your fans can look forward to?
Yes! I’m so excited about this. I have an upcoming film—a Uttarakhandi feature film called Teri Maya. I’m playing Radha. And this character… she’s completely different from anything I’ve done before. It’s emotional, layered, and very close to my heart. It’s not just a role—it’s something I’ve lived.

10. Finally, what message or emotion do you hope your music conveys to your listeners?
I just want to say this—we’ll keep bringing good work to you. And we’ll bring better and better projects in the future too. But the love you all show, the support you give, that’s everything to me. Just keep staying with me the way you have. That’s all I ask.